30 October 2016

Zagorsk

I'm nearing completion of the Comme de Garçons incense series with a recent purchase of Zagorsk.  Only Jaisalmer to go .


Also read nothing but niceness surrounding Dawn Spencer Hurwitz's Chinchilla. So I ordered a 30 ml bottle of it.  Honey whatever chypre.  Hmmm, I hate the expression, but maybe a little too old lady.  Smells like one of my grandmothers. I dunno.


20 October 2016

Red Aoud

Years ago, when I was trying everything I could, I ordered a bunch of Montale samples, incuding Black Aoud and Red Aoud.  At the time I felt Red Aoud to be to perfumey and gave the sample to my mother. I've grown rather weary of Montale, as they all seem to smell alike, but last week I saw Red Aoud on sale, so I grabbed it.  You know? I actually like it.


I also got a bottle of Lanvin Avante Garde, of which I had read good things online. It's ok.  Does not thrill me.  Yet another woody amber.  It was very cheap, though, so no worries.


13 October 2016

Myrrhe Impériale

I got a bottle of Armani Privé Myrrhe Impériale, 100 ml (my first in the line).  I guess I'm on a myrrh kick lately.  It's very nice.  I guess they don't use those wooden boxes any more.


I also, on a whim, got LM Parfums Hard Leather (100 ml), as it was on sale for, like, $200 off.  Anyway, a mistake. People speak about how animalic or fecal it all is.  I was looking forward to something challenging.   All I get is, er, shoe polish. I guess I should give it more time.


09 October 2016

Encres Noires

When I first started getting interested in perfumes, Lalique Encre Noire was being very much hyped on Basenotes.  As it was fairly cheap to buy at the time in the edt, I blind bought it ( I think it was my first blind buy).  I really loved it  and was very happy and, for the most part, I still am.  It remains my favorite vetiver fragrance.


At the time if its release, Lalique also issued a limited edition edp in a crystal bottle.  The price was very expensive (around $750, I believe) so not many people have bought or even tried it.  A few years back, Neiman Marcus had it on sale for around $350, so I made a point of buying it. The bottle is indeed very beautiful (for excellent photos of the bottle and its presentation, see Nathan Branch's spread on Flickr).



The perfume itself is a beautiful, much smoother version of the edt, but recognizably the same scent.  Both scents were created by Nathalie Lorson.

Lalique issued an Encre Noire pour Elle, which abandoned the inky vetiver of the original for something floral. I didn't find it interesting. The nose this time was Christine Nagel.



A few years back, Lalique put out an Encre Noire Sport, again credited to Lorson. I have yet to try it, as I tend to avoid sport flankers. It has, however, gotten good reviews.


When I first heard that Lalique was to finally issue an extreme version of the scent, I assumed it would be the same edp issued ten years ago. Encre Noire à l'Extrême (again Lorson), though, is not the same. It wears much lighter than the original and is, dare I say it, a cleaner, soapier version.  Not nearly as extreme as the original edt, with less sillage and longevity.


Given the choice, I would probably wear the 2006 edp.  However, since a new bottle will never be available to me again, I tend not to wear it.  Hence I'll stick with the original edt.

05 October 2016

1001 Ouds

I forgot to mention another purchase. I got Annick Goutal 1001 Ouds. I haven't tried any of the other in the Les Absolus d'Annick Goutal -- Ambre Sauvage, Vanille Charnelle and Rose Oud --  they're kinda pricey. The presentation is very nice, I might add.

1001 Ouds reminds me of Encens Flamboyant, although a bit sweeter. Smokey like EF. I like it. Not particularly oudy, from my limited knowledge.